Symmonds 1:49.48 at Portland Track Festival

800 dude wrote:

"Technicalities" are just "the rules." It's written down in black and white, and Symmonds earned his way in. This isn't like when Goucher lobbied USATF to get him into the 10k at the 2008 trials.

Yes it's exactly like that. He didn't earn anything

Sir Paul Ringo Starr wrote:

He was great when the USA was down in the 800m.

And when it was good. Anybody remember a year when a pair of Americans ran 1:42? I'm pretty sure he's one of only 4 Americans to even run that fast.

Sir Paul Ringo Starr wrote:

800 dude wrote:

"Technicalities" are just "the rules." It's written down in black and white, and Symmonds earned his way in. This isn't like when Goucher lobbied USATF to get him into the 10k at the 2008 trials.

Yes it's exactly like that. He didn't earn anything

Silver medal in Moscow.... who else has won a world/Olympic silver medal for the US in the men's 800 in the past 15 yrs

xcskier66 wrote:

Symmond is one of the saviest runners out there.

He always seems to perform well at big races even when he shouldn't.

Remember the nationals several years ago where every took off at a suicidal pace. He knew his limits was in last place ~200M into the race and moved up to podium.

Dude's been racing a while, is a gamer on the track, knows how to peak and wants it.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him in London. Maybe even making it to the finals there.

Savvy, yes, but I doubt he gets below 1:47 this season. Nick's slow roll downhill since 2015 just shows how good KD was. Nick last broke 1:45 when he was 31.5 y/o in 2015. KD ran a similar time right at 31, and continued to run break 1:45 for four of the five following seasons, with a 1:45.77 as the outlier.

I've always been a big Nick fan, but it's not very enticing to see him play the Manzano game of hot/cold. KD was blazing until he retired!

One thing I think is underappreciated about Symmonds career, especially now that he has had a down year or two and been focused on off-track stuff (which is fine by me) is how good and consistent he was ON the track

Besides the obvious 6 US Titles, he went sub 1:44 11 times (and did it 5 consecutive years, 2009-13). For comparison KD did it twice (and I agree he had a great career as well).

Included in those sub 1:44's are wins in London and Zurich Diamond Leagues and a World Silver so he wasn't just a domestic champion who didn't do well in elsewhere. 1:44 is around 600th place on the all time athletics list, which is like a 1500m guy going sub 3:32 11 times.

Nationals this year is obviously going to be tough as he clearly acknowledges- but he deserves a big send off not just for what he has done to push the sport forward (which I'd argue is a lot) but for what he accomplished in the sport.

Grippovitch wrote:

... and of most concern he looked terrible doing it. Was 8 or so meters down after 200m and just couldnt even get back into the mix even though it was barely sub 1.20 at 600m. Looked bulky and totally out of rhythm. Honestly, I think Symmonds is a legend but I don't know what the point of going to nationals would be for him.

If he'd looked fantastically great, then there'd not be much upside.

He's going to look like a pregnant Alysa Montoya out there at nationals against the young lions he's up against now.

Hair club for men calling NS wrote:

He's going to look like a pregnant Alysa Montoya out there at nationals against the young lions he's up against now.

Well....in the interview there is a dead giveaway that he is a doper. He WILL dope his way into shape by USATF. He said so in so many words.

You guys are a bunch of old cranks who put your catheters in the wrong hole this morning. Symmonds is a legend who has done great things for the sport both on and off the track. I think it's a dangerous proposition to bet against him, he has so much old man strength that he's gonna make it to the USATF final and contend for the win, he gets fit super quickly.

There's no such thing as old man strength in the 800m, only old man tendon strain.

Father Time is undefeated.

"Old man strength" is code for drugs in Nicky's world.

I'll bet against him. How how a bet are you willing to cover?

Nick's a self gloryifing tool, but I highly doubt he's a drug user.

He's remembering being young and talented and sharpening from sub 4 mile and 1:46 shape to 1:44 shape in a couple of weeks. That ain't happening this year, mostly because he ain't in sub 4 mile and 1:46 shape.

Sir Paul Ringo Starr wrote:

He has no business going to the USA's and getting in on technicality. Everyone in the A race was 2-3 secs faster and he was beat by college kids who couldn't even qualify for NCAAs.

I bet he pull a a fall to the track stunt.

To be fair the top two in the race made the finals for the 1500. Wait and see on Symmonds, he could surprise everyone and find a way on the team.

I agree, completely, and think that Nick is a better athlete with a better career than KD. However, I'm bummed to see Nick fall off pretty quickly.

Reality check 1,2 wrote:

he just got smoked in the B heat at a B meet with a time that wouldnt win high school nationals. Let's get real here. He's carrying an injury, can't train properly, and is facing younger guys who are better than he was in his prime.

... he ran 1:42..

I don't even know why Symmonds continues to race honestly. His heart does not seem into it at all. Business now seems to be his first priority. I think he should have retired last year...

French toast is good man wrote:

Reality check 1,2 wrote:

he just got smoked in the B heat at a B meet with a time that wouldnt win high school nationals. Let's get real here. He's carrying an injury, can't train properly, and is facing younger guys who are better than he was in his prime.

... he ran 1:42..

Exactly, a bit disingenuous to say he is "facing younger guys who are better than he was in his prime." Nick Symonds in his prime was as good as any he will be facing at usas, and was better than the majority.

I agree he doesn't have much of a shot at all of making the team. But, he earned his way into nationals according to the rules everybody follows and he is making an attempt to have an honest effort, despite coming off of an injury.

It isnt like he is going out there with a beer gut having not run in a year, he is training as hard as he can. I doubt it will be enough to make even finals, but at least he'll look like a "real" runner out there.